im thinking about being a dance choreographer, but im not sure if they get paid enough...

Agnes DeMille said it , or maybe it was Martha Graham. "Choreographers are born, not made" If you're doing it for the money, find another career.

A few people get paid enough to live on their work as choreographers, but not many. If you are good at selling yourself and have a head for business you might be able to get paid enough. You could apply for grants if you can find a non-profit to work with.

I don't have any idea what would be "enough" for you. Good for you for thinking about how to be financially independent and support a family. I would encourage you to continue dancing and choreographing because that is your love, and have a day job to support your joy. I would also encourage you to try to "...get paid enough..." if you can. Either way do what you love, but also do what you need to do to be financially secure and live up to your responsibilities.

I believe it was Martha Graham who reportedly said, "If you have to ask yourself if you want to be a dancer, then don't become a dancer." The point being that a dancer's life is filled with hard work and the only way one could work hard enough is for love. Dancers traditionally make very little money, but if you get into a company that pays its dancers or you do something else you might think of, who is to say you can't make enough money? Try it and find out, but always keep in mind that you may need a fall-back plan and prepare for that as well.

I was a dancer and choreographer and produced my own concerts on which I never made any money. I made my money by teaching dance and choreography to people of all ages and teaching exercise in health clubs. I washed the studio floor in exchange for classes and studio time and found ways to support my love. But in the end I became worried about what I would live on when I was older and became a physical therapist so I could have a job with pay, benefits and retirement savings.

I'm now retired and I'm glad I was able to save some money. I eventually found a job doing physical therapy in a school for children with multiple disabilities. I used everything I learned about movement as a dancer and all my skills at inventing movement with those children and I loved it as much as I loved to dance.